Cylindrical brush with stub shaft support

ABSTRACT

A separable stub shaft connection for a rotatable brush. The brush includes a cylindrical tubular hub which, in a preferred embodiment, has a sleeve-like adapter of short axial length pressed into each end thereof. A stub shaft has one portion thereof positioned within the adapter and fixedly connected to the hub, with the stub shaft having a second portion spaced axially from said first portion and rotatably supported within a bearing. The hub and the adapter each have a separable arcuate sector which extends through an angle of approximately 180* and is of short axial length. The separable sectors coact with similar opposed sectors which are fixedly connected to the hub and adapter. The one portion of the stub shaft is positionable between the opposed cooperating pairs of arcuate sectors. The sectors are fixedly connected in surrounding relationship to the stub shaft by means of a fastener, such as a bolt, which extends through the arcuate sectors and the stub shaft. Removal of the bolt and the separable sectors enables the brush to be replaced or repositioned relative to the support bearings.

United States Patent [191 Clark 1 Nov. 25, 1975 CYLlNDRlCAL BRUSH WITHSTUB SHAFT SUPPORT [76] Inventor: Gaylord J. Clark, 4679 Paw Paw LakeRoad, Coloma, Mich. 49038 22 Filed: Sept. 30, 1974 211 Appl. No.:510,751

[52] U.S. Cl. 15/179; 15/21 D; 15/182; 29/123 [51] Int. Cl. A46B 13/02[58] Field of Search 15/179, 180, 181, 182, 15/183, 198, 200, 77, 102,2| D;29/115, 123

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,742 1/1958 Veach29/123 X 2,924,838 2/1960 Jones et al 15/182 3,195,159 7/1965Enchelmaier et a1... 15/179 X 3,284,830 11/1966 Kroll 15/179 X 3,418,67412/1968 Lechene 15/182 3,574,880 4/1971 Butzen 15/179 PrimaryExaminer-Peter Feldman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard andFlynn [57] ABSTRACT A separable stub shaft connection for a rotatablebrush. The brush includes a cylindrical tubular hub which, in apreferred embodiment, has a sleeve-like adapter of short axial lengthpressed into each end thereof. A stub shaft has one portion thereofpositioned within the adapter and fixedly connected to the hub, with thestub shaft having a second portion spaced axially from said firstportion and rotatably supported within a bearing. The hub and theadapter each have a separable arcuate sector which extends through anangle of approximately 180 and is of short axial length. The separablesectors coact with similar opposed sectors which are fixedly connectedto the hub and adapter, The one portion of the stub shaft ispositionable between the opposed cooperating pairs of arcuate sectors.The sectors are fixedly connected in surrounding relationship to thestub shaft by means of a fastener, such as a bolt, which extends throughthe arcuate sectors and the stub shaft. Removal of the bolt and theseparable sectors enables the brush to be replaced or repositionedrelative to the support bearmgs.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 CYLINDRICAL BRUSHWITH STUB SHAFT SUPPORT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toa separable stub shaft connection which is particularly desirable foruse with a rotatable member, such as a brush, to facilitate replacementor repositioning of the brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a vehicle washing operation, the rotarybrushes undergo substantial wear and thus must be periodically replacedor repositioned. Since the rotary brushes are of substantial length,they are normally supported by bearings located adjacent the oppositeaxial ends of the brush. For this purpose, the brush normally has stubshafts welded on the ends thereof or has an elongated support shaftextending throughout the length thereof for support on the bearings.This structure makes replacement or repositioning of the brush, such asby turning the brush end for end, extremely difficult and timeconsuming. Particularly, removal of the brush and replacement orrepositioning thereof can normally be accomplished only by first axiallypulling out the complete shaft through the bearing assembly. The need topull the shaft axially through the bearing assembly is extremelydifficult and time consuming, and can also cause severe damage to thebearing. Further, such a maintenance or repair operation necessarilyresults in the washing assembly being shut down for a substantial periodof time.

A further disadvantage associated with structures of this general typeis that any damage to the shaft, such as caused by a bad bearing,requires replacement of the complete shaft. This is undesirable, bothfrom the standpoint of the magnitude of maintenance and shutdown timerequired, but also from the standpoint of the cost of the new shaft.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved separable stub shaft connection for supporting a rotatablemember within a bearing, which stub shaft connection overcomes theabovementioned disadvantages by greatly simplifying the replacement orrepositioning of the rotary member relative to the bearing. The rotarymember, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises arotatable brush used in association with a vehicle washing system,whereby the improved stub shaft connection greatly simplifies bothreplacement and repositioning of the brush, such as repositioning thebrush end for end, thereby providing substantially increased brush lifeand economy by providing for more uniform wear of the brush.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedstub shaft connection, as aforesaid, which permits the replacement orrepositioning of a rotary member, such as a brush, in a minimal amountof time and in a manner which is not damaging to the bearings, and whichrequires no elaborate tools or equipment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stub shaftconnection, as aforesaid, which does not require precision machine workso that same can be manufactured in an extremely simple and economicalmanner, which can be manufactured from relatively inexpensive material,and which can be manufactured in a manner resulting in substantially nowastage of materials. The stub shaft connection of the present inven-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary brushsystem, such as used in association with a vehicle washing operation.incorporating therein the improved stub shaft connection of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stub shaft connection andits relationship to the end of the rotary brush.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the stub shaft connection asassembled to the end of the rotary brush.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating a modifiedstructure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, thewords upwardly, downwardly, leftwardly and rightwardly will refer todirections in the drawings to which reference is made. The wordsinwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from,respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated partsthereof. Said terminology will include the words above specificallymentioned, deratives thereof and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the presentinvention are met by providing a separable stub shaft connection which,when fixedly secured to a rotary member, particularly a rotary brush.enables the brush to be readily removed and replaced or repositionedrelative to a support bearing structure. The stub shaft connectionincludes a stub shaft having a cylindrical bearing portion which isadapted to be rotatably supported within the support bearing structure.The stub shaft also includes a support portion spaced axially from thebearing portion, which support portion extends into and is fixedlyconnected to the end of a tubular hub associated with the rotary brush.The hub of the brush has a separate arcuate section which extendsthrough approximately I and coacts with a similar arcuate section whichis fixed to the hub for clampingly surrounding the support portion ofthe stub shaft. A fastening member, such as a bolt, extends through theopposed arcuate sections and the support portion for fixedly connectingsame. The support portion of the stub shaft extends into the hub by anaxial extent which is substantially no greater than the axial length ofthe removable arcuate section whereby removal of the separable hubsection enables the stub shaft to be separated from the brush structureby means of movement therebetween in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the rotational axis of the brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates therein a brush system 10 of thetype commonly utilized in a washing operation for vehicles, andparticularly to a brush system of the type conventionally utilized forwashing tires and other components of a vehicle when a vehicle isrelatively, slowly moved along the length of the brush. The brush systemincludes a rotary brush 11 supported for rotation about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, by conventional antifriction bearing assemblies 12disposed adjacent the opposite ends of the brush. The brush 11 isrotatably driven by a conventional drive 13, such as an electric motor,which drive is connected by a coupling H to the brush.

The brush 1] is of substantially conventional construction in that itincludes an elongated tubular support shaft 16 extending axiallythroughout the length thereof, which shaft has a plurality of brushbristles 17 mounted thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom. Thebristles 17, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, may be secured to thesupport tube 16 by being draped around a cable 19, which cable extendslongitudinally of a channel-shaped member 18, fixedly secured to theouter periphery of the support tube 16 and is wrapped helicallytherearound. The ends of cable 18 are suitably anchored to the drum 16,as by means of a threaded fastener 21, and the opposite flanges of thechannel member 18 are preferably bent inwardly toward one another toclampingly engage the bristles and tightly hold the cable 19 within thechannel member. This basic structure is conventional and is explained indetail in my US. Pat. No. 3,439,373. It will be appreciated that thebristles could be mounted on the drum in any desired manner and thusfurther description of the brush construction is not believed necessary.

The brush 11 is provided with a separable stub shaft connection 22located adjacent each end of the brush, which stub shaft connectionscoact with the bearings 12 to provide for rotatable support of the brush1 l. The stub shaft connection 22 includes an adapter sleeve 23positioned within the end of the support tube 16, which adapter sleeve23 is of relatively short axial length so as to project into the supporttube 16 for only a short distance. The adapter sleeve 23 is fixedlysecured relative to the support tube l6, as by being welded thereto, orby press fitting the adapter sleeve 23 into the end of the tube 16.Adapter sleeve 23 has a bore 24 extending therethrough.

The tube 16 has an arcuate sector 28 cut from the end thereof and acorresponding arcuate sector 29 is similarly cut from the end of theadapter sleeve 23. These arcuate sectors 28 and 29 are each ofsubstantially the same axial length and each extends through an angle ofapproximately 180. The arcuate sectors 28 and 29 are formed by firstpress fitting the adapter sleeve 23 within the end of the support tube16. A longitudinal slot 27 is then cut into the end of the tube 16having the sleeve 23 fixed therein, which cut may be made by means of aconventional saw. The cut 27 is disposed substantially on a radiallyextending plane which passes through the axis of the tube, with the cutextending completely across the diameter of the tube. This cut 27extends axially into the tube 16 by a dis tance which is approximatelyequal to one-half the length of the adapter sleeve 23. The tube 16 withthe adapter sleeve 23 therein has a further cut or slot 26 formedtherein, also by means of a conventional saw or similar device, whichslot 26 is disposed within a radial plane which is substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the tube. The slot 26 is aligned with theinner or blind end of the slot 27 and extends to the diametrical planedefined by the slot 27. This results in the formation of arcuate sectors28 and 29, which sectors are cut directly from the tube 16 and theadapter sleeve 23 respectively. The resulting sectors thus extendthrough an angle which closely approximates but is slightly less thanthis angle due to the width of the slot formed by the cutting operation.

The formation of the arcuate sectors 28 and 29, which sectors arerespectively separable from the tube 16 and the adapter sleeve 23, alsoresult in the formation of corresponding arcuate sectors 28A and 29A.The sector 28A is substantially identical to the sector 28 in that itextends through an angle of approximately 180 except that the sector 28Ais fixedly, here integrally, connected to the tube 16. The sector 29A isalso substantially identical to the sector 29 in that it extends throughan angle of approximately 180 but is fixedly, here integrally. connectedto the adapter sleeve 23.

The arcuate sectors, as described above, are adapted to be clampinglyengaged with a stub shaft .31, which stub shaft includes a substantiallycylindrical bearing portion 32 adapted to be rotatably supported by thebearing structure 12. Stub shaft 31 also includes a support portion 33spaced axially from the bearing portion 32, which support portion 33 inthe illustrated embodiment is also cylindrical and is of larger diameterthan the bearing portion 32. The support portion 33 is provided with anouter profile which substantially corresponds to the inner profiledefined by the bore 24, that is, in the illustrated embodiment thesupport portion 33 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter ofthe bore 24. The support portion 33 has an opening 34 extendingtransversely thcrethrough, which opening is adapted to be aligned with asimilar opening 36 which extends through the fixed arcuate sectors 28Aand 29A as illustrated in FIG. 3. The removable arcuate sectors 28 and29 also have similar openings 37 and 38 respectively formed therein andextending substantially through the center portions thereof, whichopenings 37 and 38 align with the openings 34 and 36 when the stub shaftconnector 22 is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 3. The arcu ate sectors28, 29, 28A and 29A and the support portion 33 of the stub shaft arefixedly interconnected by means of a suitable fastening device, such asa bolt 39, which bolt ex tends through the aligned openings and issecured in place by a threaded nut 41 secured to the outer end thereof.

The manufacture of the brush structure of the present invention, andparticularly the stub shaft connection, will now be considered ingreater detail to more clearly emphasize the advantageouscharacteristics of this structure.

To manufacture the brush 11, the support tube 16 is initially cut to thedesired length. For this purpose, the tube 16 can be formed fromstandard tubular steel having conventional commercial tolerances. Nofinishing of the inner or outer diameters of the tube 16 is necessary.Further, the wall thickness of the tube 16 can be minimized inasmuch asadapter sleeves are utilized adjacent the ends of the tube for engagingthe stub shafts.

The adapter sleeves 23 are also formed from inexpensive grade steeltubes which are of standard size and have conventional commercialtolerances. The standard tube is cut to the desired length so as to formthe sleeve 23, and the bore 24 is machined, as by being rcnamed, to forma suitable seat for the stub shaft. After formation of the adapters, anadapter 23 is then press fitted into each end of the tube 16. A hole isthen drilled through each end of the tube 16, thereby resulting information of the openings 36, 37, and 38. The slot 27 is then cutlongitudinally into each end of the tube 16, as by means of a verticalsaw, which slot extends diametrically across the tube and is cut to adepth which is substantially less than the axial length of the adaptersleeve 23. The slot 27 in the illustrated embodiment has a depthapproximately equal to one-half the axial length of the sleeve 23. A 180slice is also cut from each end of the tube, such as by a horizontalsaw, so as to result in the formation of the slot 26, which slot 26 isperpendicular to the axis of the tube and has the inner end thereof incommunication with the inner end of the longitudinal slot 27. Theformation of these slots 26 and 27 results in the formation of thearcuate sectors 28 and 29, which sectors are separable from one anotherand are likewise separable from the tube 16 and the sleeve 23.

The stub shaft 31 is also formed from inexpensive commercially availablesteel rods, which steel rods are cut to the desired axial length and aresuitably machined to provide the portions 32 and 33 having the desiredoutside diameters. The support portion 33 is provided with an outsidediameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore 24.

To assemble the stub shaft structure, and assuming same is disassembledas illustrated in FIG. 2, then the support portion 33 is seated withinthe arcuate recess defined by the arcuate sector 29A associatted withthe adapter sleeve 23. The support portion 33 is positioned so that theopenings 34 and 36 align with one another and, since the shaft portion33 and the bore 24 are of substantially the same diameter, the supportportion 33 snugly seats within the arcuate sector 29A. The arcuatesector 28 and 29 are then positioned over the exposed portion of thesupport portion 33 so that the openings 37 and 38 are substantiallyaligned with the opening 34. The bolt 39 is then inserted through thealigned openings 34, 36, 37 and 38 and suitably tightened by means ofthe nut 41 Tightening of the nut 41 causes the arcuate sections, andparticularly the inner arcuate section 29, to be drawn inwardly towardthe opposed arcuate section 29A so that the stub shaft portion 33 istightly clamped therebetween. The stub shaft 31 is thus fixedly securedto the tube 16 and projects outwardly from the end thereof. Since thearcuate sectors 29 and 29A each have substantially the same diameter asthe stub shaft portion 33, these arcuate sectors snugly and securelyembrace the portion 33. Further, due to the material removed by thecutting of the slot 27, the opening defined within the annulus formed bythe arcuate sectors 29 and 29A will be slightly smaller than thediameter of the shaft portion 33, so that the arcuate sectors 29 and 29Awill always be drawn inwardly into snug clamping engagement with theportion 33 over substantially the full arcuate extent thereof.

When it is desired to replace or reposition the brush 11, and assumingthat same is rotatably supported between a pair of spaced bearingstructures 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the bolts 39 associated with thestub shaft structures 22 are initially removed. The arcuate sectors 28and 29 adjacent each end of the brush are then removed, whereby thebrush 11 is supported on the stub shaft portions 33 solely by the aruatesectors 29A, which sectors 29A support the brush 11 in a cradle-likemanner. The brush 1] can then be removed by displacing the brush 1] in adirection substantially perpendicular to its axis, whereby the brush andthe arcuate sectors 28A and 29A projecting outwardly from opposite endsthereof are moved laterally away from the stub shaft portions 33. Inthis manner. the brush ll can be easily detached from its mountingwithout disrupting the bearing structures. The brush can then bereplaced by a new brush or repositioned end for end, and then remountedon the stub shafts by reversing the abovedescribed disassembly sequence.

On the other hand, if one of the stub shafts 31 is damaged so as torequire replacement, then the brush 11 is removed in the mannerdescribed above. The damaged stub shaft 31 is then removed from itsbearing merely by pulling same axially out of the bearing, whereupon anew stub shaft is inserted axially into the bearing, and the brush 11then remounted on the stub shaft.

As will be readily apparent from the description set forth above.replacement or repositioning of the brush, replacement of a bearing, orreplacement of a stub shaft, can be carried out efficiently andeconomically so that the overall apparatus will be shut down for only aminimum amount of time. Further, this maintenance or replacementoperation can be accomplished without requiring the use of elaboratetools or equipment. At the same time, this structure permits the brushto be readily positioned end-for-end so that this operation can beaccomplished in a desirable and efficient manner, thereby encouragingsuch end-for-end repositioning of the brush to result in more uniformwear of the brush. This obviously increases the overall life of thebrush and results in substantial economy. Further, if one of the stubshafts should be damaged and require replacement, such replacement canalso be carried out in an economical and efficient manner, andadditionally requires only a minimum expenditure for the new replacementshaft.

Still further. the stub shaft connection can be manufactured fromcommercially available tubes and shafts of relatively inexpensivematerial, and said tubes and shafts can be fabricated into the desiredstub shaft connector without requiring extensive machining or the like.This thus results in the desirable stub shaft connector of the presentinvention being extremely simple and economical to manufacture.

While the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 discloses the slot 26 asexending perpendicular to the axis, this slot could extend in anonperpendicular relationship relative to the axis, such as illustratedby the slot 26' in FIG. 4.

The present invention preferably utilizes adapter sleeves 23 so as topermit utilization of a tube 16 of minimum wall thickness. However, thetube 16 could be provided with increased wall thickness if desired. Inthis latter situation, the use of separate adapter sleeves 23 could beeliminated since the increased wall thickness of the tube 16 wouldessentially perform the same function, in which case the stub shaftconnector of the present invention would have only two arcuate sectors,namely the sectors 28 and 28A, which sectors would then snugly embracethe stub shaft portion 33. In this modification, the inner end of thetube 16 would obviously be renamed to a diameter substantially equal tothe outer diameter of the stub shaft portion 33.

Although particular perferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination. a rotary brush, a pair of bearing means positionedadjacent the opposite ends of said rotary brush, and shaft meansconnencted between said rotary brush and said pair of bearing means,whereby said rotary brush is supported for rotation about its axis,comprising the improvement wherein said shaft means includes stub shaftconnecting means connected to one end of said rotary brush and coactingwith an adjacent one said bearing means, said stub shaft connectingmeans including a stub shaft having a first shaft portion rotatablysupported within said one bearing means and a second shaft portionspaced from said first shaft portion and fixedly connected to saidrotary brush, said rotary brush having a sleevelike hub providedadjacent at least one end thereof and defining therein an opening, saidsleevelike hub having a recess formed therein and extending axiallyinwardly from the free end thereof, said recess extendingcircumferentially of said hub through a sufiicient distance so as tohave a minimum width at least equal to the cross-sectional dimension ofsaid second shaft portion, a separable portion adapted to be positionedwithin said recess so as to substantially occupy same, said separableportion cooperating with said hub so as to define said opening when saidseparable portion is disposed within said recess, said second shaftportion being positionable within said opening so as to be surrounded bysaid hub and said separable portion, and fastener means fixedlyinterconnecting said hub, said second shaft portion and said separableportion in fixed relationship relative to one another.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said hub is substantiallycylindrical and the opening defined by said hub has a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of said second shaft portion, saidsecond shaft portion extending axially into said hub by a distance nogreater than the axial length of said recess, and said fastener meanscomprising a threaded fastener element extending dismetrically acrossthe hub.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein said hub has an arcuatesector fixed thereto and projecting axially from one end thereof, saidrecess being aligned with and defined between the free ends of saidarcuate sector, and said separable portion also being arcuate and of thesame diameter as said arcuate sector so as to substantially totallyoccupy said recess, whereby said arcuate sector and said separableportion coact to define an annulus substantially similar to said hub.

4. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said arcuate sector andsaid separable portion each extend through an angle of approximately180.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said hub comprises anelongated tubular member of cylindrical configuration, a tubular adaptersleeve press fitted into one end of said tubular member, said adaptersleeve being of relatively short axial length and disposed substantiallyfiush with the outer end of said tubular member, said recess beingformed in both said tubular member and said adapter sleeve and having anaxial width less than the axial length of said adapter sleeve, and saidseparable portion including a first arcuate sector having aconfiguration identical to the con figuration of the portion of therecess formed in said tubular member and a second arcuate sector havinga configuration identical to the portion of the recess formed in saidadapter sleeve, whereby positioning of said first and second arcuatesectors in said recess results in the formation of an annulus whichdefines an opening having a diameter which is no greater than thediameter of said second shaft portion.

6. A combination according to claim 5, further including a plurality ofbrush bristles fixedly mounted on said tubular member and projectingoutwardly therefrom, said brush bristles being mounted on said tubularmember in both the axial and circumferencial directions thereof so as toform a substantially annular brush.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein a further stub shaftconnecting means is connected between the other end of said tubularmember and said other bearing means, said further stub shaft connectingmeans being identical to the stub shaft connecting means disposedadjacent said one end of said tubular member.

8. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said rotary brushcomprises a rotary brush member of annular configuration, said hubcomprising an elongated tubular core of cylindrical configuration havinga plurality of brush bristles mounted thereon and projecting outwardlytherefrom, and said connecting means including an identical stub shaftconnecting device connected to each end of said hub for rotatablysupporting said brush member in said pair of bearing means.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said separable sectioncomprises an arcuate sector cut from the end of said tubular member.

10. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said hub includes atubular adapter sleeve of relatively short axial length positionedwithin each end of said tubular core and fixedly interconnected to same,said recess being cut into each end of said hub so as to define aseparable section for association with each recess, and said separablesection comprising a first arcuate sector cut from said tubular core anda second arcuate sector cut from said adapter sleeve, the width of saidsectors and the width of said slots being substantially smaller than theaxial length of said adapter sleeves.

1. In combination, a rotary brush, a pair of bearing means positionedadjacent the opposite ends of said rotary brush, and shaft meansconnencted between said rotary brush and said pair of bearing means,whereby said rotary brush is supported for rotation about its axis,comprising the improvement wherein said shaft means includes stub shaftconnecting means connected to one end of said rotary brush and coactingwith an adjacent one said bearing means, said stub shaft connectingmeans including a stub shaft having a first shaft portion rotatablysupported within said one bearing means and a second shaft portionspaced from said first shaft portion and fixedly connected to saidrotary brush, said rotary brush having a sleevelike hub providedadjacent at least one end thereof, and defining therein an opening, saidsleevelike hub having a recess formed therein and extending axiallyinwardly from the free end thereof, said recess extendingcircumferentially of said hub through a sufficient difference so as tohave a minimum width at least equal to the cross-sectional dimension ofsaid second shaft portion, a separable portion adapted to be positionedwithin said recess so as to substantially occupy same, said separableportion cooperating with said hub so as to define said opening when saidseparable portion is disposed within said recess, said second shaftportion being positionable within said opening so as to be surrounded bysaid hub and said separable portion, and fastener means fixedlyinterconnecting said hub, said second shaft portion and said separableportion in fixed relationship relative to one another.
 2. A combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein said hub is substantially cylindrical andthe opening defined by said hub has a diameter substantially equal tothe diameter of said second shaft portion, said second shaft portionextending axially into said hub by a distance no greater than the axiallength of said recess, and said fastener means comprising a threadedfastener element extending dismetrically across the hub.
 3. Acombination according to claim 2, wherein said hub has an arcuate sectorfixed thereto and projecting axially from one end thereof, said recessbeing aligned with and defined between the free ends of said arcuatesector, and said separable portion also being arcuate and of the samediameter as said arcuate sector so as to substantially totally occupysaid recess, whereby said arcuate sector and said separable portioncoact to define an annulus substantially similar to said hub.
 4. Acombination according to claim 3, wherein said arcuate sector and saidseparable portion each extend through an angle of approximately 180*. 5.A combination according to claim 1, wherein said hub comprises anelongated tubular member of cylindrical configuration, a tubular adaptersleeve press fitted into one end of said tubular member, said adaptersleeve being of relatively short axial length and disposed substantiallyflush with the outer end of said tubular member, said recess beingformed in both said tubular member and said adapter sleeve and having anaxial width less than the axial length of said adapter sleeve, and saidseparable portion including a first arcuate sector having aconfiguration identical to the configuration of the portion of therecess formed in said tubular member and a second arcuate sector havinga configuration identical to the portion of the recess formed in saidadapter sleeve, whereby positioning of said first and second arcuatesectors in said recess results in the formation of an annulus whichdefines an opening having a diameter which is no greater than thediameter of said second shaft portion.
 6. A combination according toclaim 5, further including a plurality of brush bristles fixedly mountedon said tubular member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said brushbristles being mounted on said tubular member in both the axial andcircumferencial directions thereof so as to form a substantially annularbrush.
 7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein a further stubshaft connecting means is connected between the other end of saidtubular member and said other bearing means, said further stub shaftconnecting means being identical to the stub shaft connecting meansdisposed adjacent said one end of said tubular member.
 8. A combinationaccording to claim 1, wherein said rotary brush comprises a rotary brushmember of annular configuration, said hub comprising an elongatedtubular core of cylindrical configuration having a plurality of brushbristles mounted thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom, and saidconnecting means including an identical stub shaft connecting deviceconnected to each end of said hub for rotatably supporting said brushmember in said pair of bearing means.
 9. A combination according toclaim 8, wherein said separable section comprises an arcuate sector cutfrom the end of said tubular member.
 10. A combination according toclaim 8, wherein said hub includes a tubular adapter sleeve ofrelatively short axial length positioned within each end of said tubularcore and fixedly interconnected to same, said recess being cut into eachend of said hub so as to define a separable section for association witheach recess, and said separable section comprising a first arcuatesector cut from said tubular core and a seconD arcuate sector cut fromsaid adapter sleeve the width of said sectors and the width of saidslots substantially smaller than the axial length of said adaptersleeves.